Bedbich boseubattm



B. ROSENBAUM.

SHIPS TORPEDO TUBE. APPLICATION FlLED 00128, 1914.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

BEDRIGI-I ROSENBAUM, 0F WALLSEND, ENGLAND.

SHIP S TORPEDO-TIIBE.

memes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Application filed October 28, 1914. Serial No. 868,971.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that-I, BEDRICH ROSENBAUM, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hum gary, residing at Wallsend-on-Tyne, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ships Torpedo-Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ships torpedo tubes which are specially suitable for the broadside launching of torpedoes.

A torpedo launched under water from the side of a ship, while it is in motion, is apt to be diverted out of its correct course by the rolling and pitching of the ship and by the pressure of the water acting laterally on the torpedo as it emerges from the torpedotube and, in the case of bow and stern torpedoes, by changing the course of the ship. In order to give freedom of movement to the torpedo during its discharge it has been proposed to gradually enlarge the stern side of the mouth of the torpedo-tube, but, with this arrangement, while freedom is obtained, deflection takes place shortly after the point of the torpedo projects from the side of the vessel with the result that the torpedo is very considerably deflected out of its true course. Further, the side strain on thetorpedo, as it is leaving the tube, is apt to break the weak tail part thereof.

Under this invention the torpedo tube is suitably bulged or enlarged at a part thereof in advance of the mouth in such manner, that, when the tail part of the torpedo enters the enlargement, the body of the torpedo will be supported directly or indirectly at, in, or near the mouth of the tube and in such a manner that it can swing or turn on or about this place of support under the action of side pressure thereby lessening the tendency to break the tail part of the torpedo. With this construction of torpedo tube not only is freedom of discharge insured but the amount of deflection from the true course is much reduced.

The shape of the torpedo tube is such that the torpedo is guided straight in the torpedo tube until the side pressure exerted by the water on the emerged portion of the torpedo would, under ordinary conditions, exert a maximum safe strain, anyincrease of pres sure beyond this tending to break or damage the tail of the torpedo, and then, owing to the enlargement, the course of the torpedo 1s allowed to change (under the side pressure) so that increase of strainon the tail of the torpedo is avoided. At the moment of change the torpedo can freely deflect from the straight course as it is guided or supported practically at one point only.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood I have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings whereon I have shown, diagrammatically and simply by way of illustration or example, a torpedo and a torpedo tube constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 1 shows, in sectional plan, one mode of, constructing the torpedo-tube. The torpedo is shown emerging from the tube. Fig. 2 sl1ows part of the torpedo in side elevation and to an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line A-A, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows another mode of constructing the torpedo-tube. Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line BB, Fig. 4.

In the construction shown at Fig. 1 it will be seen that the torpedo-tube a is made, at the one side thereof (toward the bow) with an enlargement or bulge 1) whose inner surface is preferably formed as a gradual curve or sweep of the shape shown and this enlargement is made sufficiently long to enable the rear end or tail part 0 of the torpedo o to enter it as the torpedo itself is deflected by the pressure of the Water which acts in the direction indicated by the darts cl. The part a of the tube is straight and is of such length that the torpedo is guided in a straight line until the pressure exerted on the outwardly projecting part of the torpedo becomes sufliciently great to strain the tail part 0 to the maximum permitted or to a predetermined point. When that is reached, owing to the special formation of the enlargement, the torpedo can swing around upon and slide on the part i and pass out of the tube without bearing forcibly against the enlargement. In this manner a free discharge is obtained while there is no danger of the tail part of the torpedo being broken. The torpedo is, preferably, provided with two or more radially arranged guide ribs j extending from the cylindrical part of the torpedo to the tail end thereof as shown at Figs. 2 and 3, which ribs, when the torpedo is being discharged, serve as guides and prevent the tail end thereof striking against the mouth or wall of the torpedo-tube as it leaves the same thereby preventing damage. The ribs also serve to stifien the rear end of the torpedo. lzindicates the cover of the torpedo-tube which is, of course, shown in the open position.

It will be seen that the torpedo can be projected beyond the ship for about half its length before its end 0 enters the enlargement and, immediately this takes place, the parallel movement of the torpedo ceases and, as it is discharged, it is deflected from its correct course but is soon brought back by the action of the gyroscope.

In the'constructi'on shown at Fig. 2, instead of the torpedo-tube having an enlargement at one side, it is provided with a substantially ovate or like enlargement, see also Fig. 5. Inthis case the torpedo-tube is shown as movably attached (by a ball and socket joint)-to the shell of the ship in a suitable and well known manner and as having mounted therein a swivel guide ring is which serves as a guide for the torpedo when the same is being discharged. In this View the cover her the torpedo tube is shown in closed position.

Although I have described the invention specially in connection with torpedo-tubes I for launching torpedoes from the broadside I of the ship it is to be understood that the same can be applied to any form or arrangement of torpedo tube for which it may be suitable. Of course, the shape of the enlargement may be altered more orless to suit different constructions of torpedoes or otherwise.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. 'A *ships torpedo tube having an enlargement extending for a portion of the length thereof, the enlargement being shaped so that when the tail part of the torpedo enters the same the body of the torpedo will be-supported near the mouth of the tube in such manner that it can swing or turn on, or about, the place of support under the action of side pressure.

2. A ships torpedo tube which has, at the mouth thereof, a swiveling guide ring through which the torpedo ban pass the tube being enlarged in rear "of the guide ring to a diameter} greater than thatof the largest diameter of the torpedo and then reduced to a diameter a roximating tothat of the torpedo.

3. Aship' s torpedo'tubewhich is cylindrical for a portion of itsleng'thand is then enlarged in a curvilinear manner, this enlargement extending from the cylindrical A part to near the mouth oi the torpedo tube which latter is provided with swiveling means for the guidance of the torpedo as it emerges from the tube.

In testimony whereof I affix my'signature in presence of two witnesses.

' BEDRIGH ROS'ENBAUM.

Witnesses:

H. NIXON, A5 Miromnson.

' Oopies of .this pat'ent may bebbtained' for five cents 'e'a'ch,=by addressing the Commissioner-01 Patents, Washington; D.'G. 

